If a baby appears to be arching its back while crying intensely or straightening her legs and screaming at night, it COULD be a sign of something abnormal. Back arching is a common reflex that babies exhibit when they suffer from very acute or strong pain.
Is it normal for babies to stiffen their legs?
This condition, also called stiff baby syndrome, is when the baby stiffens her body, most notably, her legs and arms, particularly when being picked up. There are many causes for an infant to be stiff and most of them resolve over time. But in a small number of cases, a stiff baby is a sign of a birth injury.
When do babies straighten their legs?
Your baby’s legs will straighten out within six to 12 months.
How can you tell if a baby is having seizures?
What are the symptoms of a seizure in a child?
- Staring.
- Jerking movements of the arms and legs.
- Stiffening of the body.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Breathing problems or stopping breathing.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.
Why does my newborn stretches a lot?
You also may notice your baby stretching and kicking his or her legs. This movement strengthens leg muscles, preparing your infant to roll over, which usually happens around 4 to 6 months of age.
Why does my newborn squirm so much?
While older children (and new parents) can snooze peacefully for hours, young babies squirm around and actually wake up a lot. That’s because around half of their sleep time is spent in REM (rapid eye movement) mode — that light, active sleep during which babies move, dream and maybe wake with a whimper.